One hundred days in, the newly elected Trump administration has wasted little time turning campaign slogans into market-moving policy for the crypto industry. From big election promises and booming Bitcoin prices, to policy promises and regulatory shake-ups, the new era for crypto in the US has been progressive. The message from Washington is clear that crypto is now foundational. And the ripple effects are already being felt. Following Trump’s inauguration, a series of announcements have created fertile ground for digital currency investment, including January’s pro-crypto executive order, the establishment of the US strategic reserve, and now the signing of the first-ever crypto bill into US law. As a result of political changes in Washington, six in ten (59%) institutional investors think financial services firms will now increase investments into digital assets this year. This regulatory “green light” is turning heads not just on Wall Street, but globally. As the U.S., the world’s largest economy, leans into digital assets, the effect could accelerate mainstream merchant adoption and consumer trust worldwide.
Day 1, 21 January 2025 – A new crypto chapter: Trump signs pro-crypto executive order
On his first full day in office, President Trump signed an executive order declaring digital assets “strategic to U.S. national competitiveness.” The order directed federal agencies to streamline crypto regulations, accelerate innovation, and support private sector adoption.
This bold policy set the tone for the year, positioning crypto not as a threat but as critical infrastructure. It catalysed confidence across markets, with Bitcoin soaring. As a global crypto payments gateway, conversations with cross-border clients surged. This opened the door for banks, PSPs, and fintechs to explore digital assets more openly, no longer needing to sit on the regulatory sidelines.
Day 26, 15 February 2025 – Taking crypto to the next level: U.S. establishes digital asset reserve
The U.S. Treasury announced the creation of a national digital asset reserve, designed to hold Bitcoin and select stablecoins. Its role is to provide liquidity support, economic resilience, and monetary optionality in a post-dollar world.
A digital asset reserve elevates crypto from a speculative asset to a sovereign-grade infrastructure. It validates crypto’s role as a monetary instrument, not just a means of exchange. With the U.S. taking crypto seriously at the macro level, merchants and enterprises feel more confident offering crypto checkout at scale. This sets a precedent: central governments can backstop and legitimise crypto ecosystems. It encourages other countries and central banks to explore digital asset strategies.
Day 61, 22 March 2025 – Crypto is legitimate: First-ever U.S. crypto bill signed into law
Congress passed and Trump signed the Digital Asset Clarity & Innovation Act, marking the first federal law providing a comprehensive framework for cryptocurrencies. It defines digital assets, clarifies tax treatments, sets licensing rules, and protects consumer rights.
Clear legal standing removes ambiguity for merchants, consumers, and institutional players. Crypto becomes viable for everyday commerce, not just trading. This means crypto payment providers are better equipped to support large enterprise clients with robust, compliant payment rails in the U.S. The law also unlocks easier access to U.S. bank partnerships and onboarding for domestic clients.
This law is a watershed moment. With regulatory clarity, expect traditional PSPs to integrate crypto into core services, mirroring what MiCA achieved in the EU.
Days 70 – 100, 1 – 30 April 2025 – Ripple effects across markets: Crypto adoption spikes
The tide on crypto has most definitely turned by now. Bitcoin hit $91,000 in mid-April, 59% of institutional investors plan to increase digital asset investments, and 85% of major U.S. retailers now accept crypto.
Crypto is no longer fringe, it’s a mainstream payments rail. Real-time settlement, low fees, and no intermediaries make it superior for many global commerce use cases. Sectors like logistics, manufacturing, and real estate are joining crypto-native verticals. Our plug-and-play APIs are unlocking faster global settlements and expanding cross-border reach.
The traditional payments stack is being challenged. Crypto is reshaping the economics of money movement, particularly in emerging markets and for high-value B2B transfers.
Outlook: Laying the rails for a crypto future
In just 100 days, the U.S. has gone from cautious to committed on crypto. These moves are laying the groundwork for a future where crypto works with traditional finance, not against it. Not as a speculative asset but as core financial infrastructure. The government’s digital asset reserve, coupled with legislative clarity, signals a serious pivot toward a hybrid monetary future, where crypto and traditional finance coexist or even merge.
For crypto, there is greater trust, faster adoption, and higher volumes. For crypto payment providers, a major growth inflection point and validation of our global-first strategy. For the wider payments industry, a new era of programmable, borderless money is accelerating, and there’s no going back.
Global merchants, who have traditionally struggled with late payment windows, incurring transfer fees, and dollarisation conversion issues, can lean on crypto as a new tool for frictionless transactions. Trump’s first 100 days have created a space for crypto interest to rapidly increase, as 85% of big retailers already accept crypto as a form of payment. Crypto is fast-becoming a legitimised asset class, one which merchants can consistently rely on for improved trade.
It will now be critical to see how regulatory pieces link together, and how key businesses respond in kind to emerging legal frameworks that define and manage this emerging market. With regulatory groundwork laid and political will behind it, the U.S. is well-positioned to lead the global crypto economy. But execution will matter. Regulatory interoperability, tax frameworks, and international alignment will define the next chapter.
Anıl Öncü
CEO of Bitpace
originally published on ccn.com